LookingtoJesus

November 1

Bible Reading: Acts 23:23-35

Acts 23:23-24, “Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor’.”

The question was not whether Paul would escape the plot formed against him, for Jesus already assured him that he would testify in Rome.  The question was how it would come to pass?

God sovereignly enlisted Roman soldiers to ensure Paul’s safety.  The commander called to him two of the centurions and gave them orders.  He knew that he would be held accountable for Paul, a Roman citizen, if anything happened to him.  So, Paul was to be escorted by 470 soldiers on his way to Caesarea.  No band of 40 Jewish zealots would be so foolhardy to attack that small army! 

The Lord had previously appeared to Paul and spoke to him reassuring words (Acts 23:11).  God would take care of him!  In living for Jesus and serving Jesus, Paul experienced the divine hand of God’s protection. God could have used any number of ways to deliver Paul to Caesarea, but he chose to use the Roman army, reminding us that God sometimes works in mysterious ways to accomplish His plan. 

One wonders about Paul’s influence on those soldiers.  No doubt he availed himself of opportunities to share his faith.  Some likely witnessed the commotion he had caused and wondered.  How many heard the gospel?  How many trusted in Jesus?

dangerPaul’s time in Jerusalem was filled with turmoil, and his life sometimes appeared to be in jeopardy.  But he was never truly in danger because of the faithfulness of God.  God works on behalf of his people to protect and provide.  “No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you.”

“Safety does not depend on our conception of the absence of danger.  Safety is found in God’s presence, in the center of His perfect will.”—T. J. Bach

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through ev’ry day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

October 31

Bible Reading: Acts 23:12-22

Acts 23:12-14, “When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul’.”

Wherever Paul traveled, he often found himself in trouble, not due to his actions, but because of the gospel he preached. The conflict intensified in Jerusalem after he shared regarding his mission to the Gentiles. Some Jews, zealous for the law, falsely accused him of undermining Jewish customs. Although church leaders attempted to appease these opponents, their plan failed. When Paul defended himself, mentioning his ministry to Gentiles, chaos erupted.

Paul was then brought before the council, where he cleverly sparked a division by discussing the resurrection. This led to violent discord between the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, and the Sadducees, who did not. To protect Paul from harm, the tribune ordered him taken away by force.

Meanwhile, a conspiracy formed among over forty Jews who vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They devised an ambush for him during a supposed interrogation (Acts 23:12-15). Their animosity was intense; they sought to murder him, not for any wrongdoing but because they opposed his message of salvation by grace and his outreach to Gentiles (Acts 20:24; 21:20; 22:21-22).

Paul’s nephew learned of the ambush and warned Paul, who then instructed a centurion to take him to the tribune. The tribune responded promptly, sending a substantial force to escort Paul safely to Felix, the governor (Acts 23:16-24).  God providentially worked through the nephew and the quick response of the tribune to keep Paul safe!

This hostility arose from a zeal for God that lacked knowledge (Romans 10:2). Yet, God, who had saved Paul before, continued to watch over him until his mission of sharing the gospel of grace was complete (Acts 23:11).  Paul endured much for the sake of the Lord and the gospel.  That good news about Jesus, though opposed by many, is a treasure worth living and proclaiming, no matter the cost.

“He would be a missionary simpleton who expected plain sailing in any work of God.” –James O. Fraser

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!

October 30

Bible Reading: Acts 23:11

Acts 23:11, “The following night the Lord stood by him.”

I’ve sat at the bedside of many dear hospice patients.  Day by day, life ebbs away until the time draws near for them to say goodbye.  As one would imagine, I’ve seen lots of differing kinds of responses to death and dying.  How is one to cope with that greatest of all trials?  People typically experience much pain and heartache when they have to say goodbye to dreams and dear ones during those last steps of life’s journey.  It makes a difference to know that there is One who knows and cares and can walk alongside us on that path.  The promise to those who trust God is that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us (Psalm 23:4).  That same reality comforted Paul— “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).  If you are compelled to walk an arduous path, its good to be accompanied by the One who defeated death and rose again (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).  There’s much comfort in that!

R. Kent Hughes well summarized Paul’s circumstances when, as we read in here in our verse, that the “Lord stood by him”: “This was one of the darkest nights of Paul’s life. For years he had hoped to give fruitful witness in Jerusalem. But when he arrived, he found a compromising church full of legalistic believers who held him suspect because of his contact with Gentiles. Now his hopes of convincing the leadership of his people had gone up in smoke as well. His dreams of effective testimony to the Jews lay in ashes at his feet, and his vision for successful witness in Rome began to fade too… Paul’s heart ached. He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually tired…” (Preaching the Word – Acts)

The Lord was aware of Paul’s challenging circumstances.  Paul didn’t know of the pending plot to kill him, but the Lord knew.  He knew exactly where Paul was and exactly what he needed.  And what he needed more than anything was Jesus’ comfort and reassurance.

The Lord knows of your difficult circumstances too, no matter how big or small.  You may be soon to die (as with our hospice patients), fighting cancer (like my dear wife), or dealing with some other of the many kinds of trials we all face just by living in a sin-broken world.  Perhaps it seems to you that no one knows or understands what you’re going through.  But no matter your circumstances, and even if no one else knows or cares, Jesus knows and cares.  He has promised to never forsake His own and to them imparts a peace that surpasses all understanding (Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:7). 

In the tough times, and in dying, there’s no suitable substitute for the comforting and reassuring presence of Jesus.

DOES JESUS CARE?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

October 29

Bible Reading: Acts 23:6-10

Acts 23:6, “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’”

Metaphorically speaking, he was in the Lion’s den.  These lions were not tame and had the evil smarts to do him much harm.  He’s got no lawyer to defend him, no friend in the council to intervene.  The council had long been working to rid the earth of his message.  They plotted against Jesus until they successfully put Him on that cross.  In the beginnings of the church, they’d done all they could to silence Peter and John.  Paul had previously worked with the council, gaining from them letters with which he could imprison Christians (Acts 22:5).  But now he is a traitor to their cause, and on the front lines of another.  He was God’s man enjoined in a good fight.  His cause was the gospel.  His Lord was the Risen Savior!  He was led and empowered by the Spirit, who gave him insight in what to say and do.

The council was made up of men from two different religious sects. The Sadducees were the aristocrats, the party of the rich and high priestly families.  They held charge over the temple and its services.  Materialistic in their outlook, they did not believe in life after death or any reward or punishment beyond this life.  They were politicians, wanting nothing to threaten their position or wealth, hence their opposition to Jesus and His followers.  The Pharisees exercised greater control over the general population via the synagogues.  They believed the way to God was through obedience to the law.  And that’s what they taught and held over the population.  They had little interest in politics.  They differed from the Sadducees in that they did believe in the supernatural and the resurrection.  They opposed Jesus and his followers because they refused to be bound by their teachings. 

The one thing that worked to unite these two divergent groups was their common hatred for Jesus.  However, they weren’t truly united because their underlying beliefs were so contrary.  Paul used that to his advantage.  He had a message.  That message was and is the great message of hope for us all.  It’s the message that the church preached from its beginning.  It’s the message Paul had taken to faraway places in his three missionary journeys.  It was his trump card, and he pulled it out.  “It is with respect and the resurrection of the dead that I’m on trial” (Acts 23:6).  In that, he lofted a spiritual bomb into the room.  For the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not.  And an eruption of dissension arose between the two groups.  The dissension escalated into violence until the tribune had to take Paul by force away to the barracks.  The trial ended with no conviction, and Paul lived on to fight his good fight.  Truth be told, he was on trial for his refusal to abandon that very same gospel message he chose to proclaim to the council.  But his cause was just and even the gates of hell could not and will not prevail against the Lord’s promise (Matthew 16:18).

Amidst the chaos found in this world, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead endures as the preeminent message of hope for those who believe.

FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Chorus:
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er ev’ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield. [Chorus]

To him who overcomes the foe
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame;
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night
In Jesus’ conq’ring name. [Chorus]

October 28

Bible Reading: Acts 23:1-5

Acts 23:1, “And looking intently at the council, Paul said, ‘Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day’.”

Trouble continuously confronted Paul during his visit to Jerusalem.  The meeting with the elders led to the failed attempt to pacify Paul’s opponents.  As soon as his opponents saw him leaving the temple, they stirred up the crowd and laid hands on him. Then the Roman soldiers took hold of him, bound him, and carried him away.  His defense before the angry mob was interrupted at his mention of the word “Gentiles.”  Hearing that, they deemed him not worthy of life and sought to stone him (Acts 22:23).  What a day!  If that wasn’t enough, the next day brought him before the council to give an account.

It’s helpful to know something about the high priest who led the council. Appointed by Herod Agrippa II in approximately AD 48, this Ananias (several are mentioned in the Bible) was known for his cruelty and was especially hated by the Jews because of his ruthlessness and corruption. 

The council that was not unfamiliar to Paul for he had formerly contracted with them before his conversion, to get letters for the arrest of believers (Acts 22:5).  The council was made up of religious leaders from the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

God’s man, the Apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was brought before the devil’s man, Ananias, and other religious leaders who had been, to this point, opposing Jesus and his church for decades.  Paul was not afraid and looked intently at the council.  He defended his actions in that he lived his life before God in good conscience.  In response, contrary to the laws of the court, the high priest had Paul struck in the mouth.  Paul responded by calling attention to this violation and called the high priest a whitewashed wall (a hypocrite—which he was).  But when Paul was called out for reviling the high priest, he cited his ignorance of that fact (Exodus 22:28).

What do we find here in this account?  Paul is confident before the council, but not by his own doing.  His courage was rooted in his faith in the Lord Jesus, and in his gospel message, and in the Scriptures.  They were out to get Paul.  But Paul had the Risen Jesus on his side!  And the Lord Jesus would see him through this ordeal.

“I shall not fear the battle. If Thou art by my side.”–John E. Bode

O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if Thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control!
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul!

O Jesus, Thou hast promised
to all who follow Thee
that where Thou art in glory
there shall Thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend!

October 25

Bible Reading: Acts 22:22-30

Acts 22:22-23, “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.’ And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air.”

“Up to this word they listened to him.”  What word?  “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles’ (Acts 22:21).”  They had listened up until the statement that God had sent him to minister to the Gentiles. They could not tolerate the suggestion that the Gentiles could be saved apart from first becoming Jewish proselytes through observance of the law. 

So, they raised their voices and declared that Paul had no right to live.  Then they threw a temper tantrum, by throwing off their cloaks and throwing dust into the air.  But it was more sinister than that, even.  Recall how they had laid their garments at the feet of Saul when Stephen was stoned.  Whenever they stoned someone, it was easier to throw rocks without one’s outer garments.  So threw off their cloaks and started flinging dust in the air.  There were probably no rocks, so they grabbed whatever dirt they could get hold of. 

Infuriated, they were throwing a hate-filled tantrum. Paul laid out a rational argument, filled with hope in his own miraculous salvation and transformation.  Instead of accepting that message, they sought to kill the messenger.  Having hearts filled with prejudice, they had no ears to hear.  Paul was saved from the mob by the tribune, who ordered him to be brought back to the barracks (Acts 22:24).  Paul yearned for the salvation of his brethren, but they had no hearts to hear (Romans 10:1).

“The spirit of enmity against the gospel of Christ commonly shows itself in silencing the ministers of Christ and His gospel”–Matthew Henry

AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS?
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follow’r of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flow’ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

October 24

Bible Reading: Acts 22:17-21

Acts 22:21, “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s defense before the angry mob was his testimony of how Jesus intervened in his life.  He’d been a zealous persecutor of Christians, but then Jesus found him and turned his life in an about-face direction.  Whereas he previously sought Christians to lock them up, God then called him to go far away and tell others about Jesus. How amazing is the transformative power of the Lord Jesus!

No earthly person or committee would have chosen Saul for the task of missionary service.  Consider his resume. He’d hated Christians and worked to imprison them.  By his own testimony, “(he) persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13).  All his friends were Christian-haters.  Christians knew of his reputation and stayed clear of him. How was he to work with them?  His commission to missionary service came just after his conversion (Acts 9:15), before he’d gained any experience.  Take that resume to any missionary committee and there’d be a quick and final rejection. But God chose Saul on purpose to prove a point, and called him to serve at the Apostle to the Gentiles (2 Corinthians 4:7). 

His example proves a couple of things.  If God can save a man like Saul, then God can save anybody.  Paul said so himself: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).  Secondly, if God could use a man like Saul (Paul), “the foremost” of sinners and “least of the apostles,” (1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:9), then God can prepare and equip anyone to serve Him.  God’s got some places for you to go and share the good news, be it close at hand or far away.  The question is not your ability (He can enable you), but your availability. Are you heeding His call?

“It is always good to go where the Lord wants us to go and do what the Lord wants us to do.”—Jack Andrews

GO
Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Go, go, go
Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Go, go, go
Baptizing them in the name of the Father
And Son and Holy Ghost
Go, go, go

If you love Me, really love Me
Feed My sheep
If you love Me, really love Me
Feed My sheep
And lo, I’ll be with you forever and ever
Until the ends of the world
Go, go, go

Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Go, go, go
Go ye therefore and teach all nations
Go, go, go
Baptizing them in the name of the Father
And Son and Holy Ghost
Go, go, go
Go, go, go

Text and music: Leon Patillo; arranged by Eugene Thomas; copyright 1986 Word Music

October 23

Bible Reading: Acts 22:6-16

Acts 22:6, “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.”

It all happened when they drew near to Damascus. They’d traveled about 150 miles from Jerusalem, a 5-6 day journey. Some believers, fleeing the great persecution in Jerusalem, undoubtedly traveled the same path along the King’s Highway. Saul, having learned of the presence of these disciples, was on a mission to capture them and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

The encounter happened suddenly, around noon, when the sun was at its brightest. Yet, when the light from heaven shone upon Saul, it was far brighter (Acts 26:13). This light didn’t just illuminate him; it enveloped him in the glory of Jesus. Saul’s zealous efforts to eradicate Jesus’ followers came to an abrupt halt when he met the Savior. Though he lost his physical sight, he gained spiritual enlightenment, leading to his miraculous transformation from Christian-hater to beloved Apostle.

Your conversion experience may not have been as dramatic in the physical sense, but it was just as miraculous and included the same essential elements. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). You were darkened in your understanding. By the work of the Spirit, your eyes were opened to both the ugliness of your sin and the beauty of Jesus (John 16:8). The same God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” shone in your heart “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). As with Paul, every believer has shared in the same eye opening experience by the Spirit to the glory of Jesus.

It is a work of the Spirit to open blind eyes to the glory of Jesus!

AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

October 22

Bible Reading: Acts 22:1-5

Acts 22:1-5, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.”

Paul was aware of where his antagonists were coming from, for he’d likewise been zealous for the law in the persecution of Christians.  But then Jesus changed all that.  In his defense, Paul shared his conversion story, this being one of at least five times it’s found in Scripture (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-21; 25:2-23; Galatians 1:11-17; 1 Timothy 1:12-17).   

There are three key elements to any conversion story—life before conversion, the conversion experience, and life after conversion.  I’ve heard a lot of testimonies over the years. A good testimony is one that honors Jesus.  Jesus changes lives, and the Apostle Paul is a perfect example of how dramatic that change can be.

It’s amazing to consider what Paul (Saul) was doing before his salvation.  Every lost person is radically depraved and undeserving of salvation, but it is not always as obvious as it was in Paul’s case (Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:21).  He was “breathing threats and murders against the disciples” (Acts 9:1-2).  When they were being “put to death (he) cast (his) vote against them” (Acts 26:10).  In “raging fury against them (he) persecuted them” (Acts 26:11).  “(He) persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13).  He was “a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1 Timothy 1:13).  Saul was not seeking after Christ but was engaged in his murderous activities when Christ intervened. 

That Jesus would work to save such a man means there’s hope for anyone (1 Timothy 1:16).  But none deserve salvation.  It is, in every case, a miraculous work whereby radical depravity meets up with overflowing grace (1 Timothy 1:14).  Every believer has a “way I was” story to tell, but that story ends, and a new one begins with Jesus!

“No one is good enough to save himself; no one is so bad that God cannot save him.”

I WILL SING OF MY REDEEMER
I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Refrain:
Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave. [Refrain]

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell. [Refrain]

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be. [Refrain]

October 21

Bible Reading: Acts 22:1-5

Acts 22:2-3, “And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.”

To have common ground with someone is to have a basis of mutual interest or agreement.  It is helpful to me in my work as a hospice chaplain that I’ve some common ground with the patients and families I visit.  As a caregiver myself, I know something about the challenges other caregivers face.  As a firsthand witness to the travails and suffering experienced by someone with a terminal illness, I can relate.  Patients and caregivers feel I can better relate to what they are going through.

Paul held much in common with the mob of angry protesters he was addressing.  Establishing that fact was his first order of business in his defense.  In speaking in Hebrew, he was literally speaking their language.  As a Jew himself, he shared with them a common identity.  They loved the Law, having been educated at the feet of the famed Gamaliel, he was an expert in matters pertaining it.  He himself was zealous for God as they were.  Paul understood where they were coming from.  He could relate. 

Common ground is a useful tool when it comes to sharing one’s faith, be it some shared experience or hobby or a shared friend or acquaintance, it helps to bridge gaps and build rapport.  Whether realized or not, we’ve all common ground in that the same God has created us and we’ve all sinned against Him.  If we go back far enough or dig deep enough, we can find some shared common ground with anybody. Starting a conversation with more mundane commonalities can help in moving onto to matters of greater relevance and importance, i.e. the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”—The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 9:22, NLT)

LORD, LAY SOME SOUL UPON MY HEART
Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
And love that soul through me;
And may I bravely do my part
To win that soul for Thee.

Refrain:
Some soul for Thee, some soul for Thee,
This is my earnest plea;
Help me each day, on life’s highway,
To win some soul for Thee.

Lord, lead me to some soul in sin,
And grant that I may be
Endued with power and love to win
That soul, dear Lord, for Thee. [Refrain]

To win that soul for Thee, my Lord,
Will be my constant prayer;
That when I’ve won Thy full reward
I’ll with that dear one share. [Refrain]